The Bob Allison Rookie Card Celebrates Summer
All-Stars, flags, and sweet memories all rolled up together
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1959 Topps Bob Allison (#116) - Card of the Day
If you ever find yourself stuck between the Fourth of July and the Major League Baseball All-Star Game, longing for another summer holiday to celebrate…well, you can always call on Bob Allison.
And, thanks to Topps’ foresight, you can celebrate in patriotic style whenever you want.
See…
Allison signed with the old Washington Senators out of the University of Kansas way back in January 1955. He spent the next four seasons in the minors, mostly not hitting.
That changed in 1958, though, when he batted .307 with nine home runs and 93 RBI in 150 Double-A games, enough to earn a September callup. Of course, given the Senators being the Senators, he might have got the call even with his more typical .240-ish performance.
Either way, Allison hit .200 with no homers in 11 games to finish out the season, which turned out to be enough to punch two tickets for 1959.
First, Topps and The Sporting News tabbed Allison as one of the “Rookie Stars of 1959,” as declared on his festive red, white, and blue (and black and yellow) rookie card that you see up top.
More importantly, Allison opened the season in Washington and spent all year in the Senators’ outfield, mostly as the starter in center. He hit .261 and smashed 30 home runs while driving in 85 and collecting a league-leading nine triples. He even stole 13 bases for good measure.
Washington still finished last in the American League, but Allison teamed with American League home run champion Harmon Killebrew to give the club some hope.
So did Topps and TSN have a crystal ball, or did Allison’s 1958 showing really convince them he was the real deal? Hard to say for sure, but the duo also tabbed Dom Zanni as part of their rookie roll call, so they had to have some insight, right??
As for Allison, he kept up his slugging ways as the Senators became the Minnesota Twins, and was arguably the American League’s most productive hitter in 1963 when he put up a fairly monstrous .911 OPS and generated 7.4 WAR.
Like many big sluggers, Allison declined pretty quickly in his 30s and was done in the majors in 1970 at age 36. His lifetime totals, while not Hall of Fame worthy, are better than many billions of humans could ever dream of: .255, 256 HR, 796 RBI, 811 runs scored, 84 SB, 216 doubles, 53 triples.
Allison was a three-time All-Star and — of course — his 1959 Topps rookie card is the perfect pick-me-up when you find yourself with the July 11th blahs…stuck between the Fourth and the ASG.
Because the late William Robert Allison was born on July 11, 1934.
The Brother the World Awaited
Allison’s last big league appearance came on September 29, 1970, when the Twins hosted the Royals. He came into the game in the bottom of the fifth, pinch-hitting for Minnesota starter Jim Perry.
Back in 1959, while collectors were pulling Allison’s rookie card, Gaylord Perry’s big brother was showing he had a little hot dog in him…or, rather, that some packs of hot dogs had a little him in them.
Read all about the 1959 Kahn’s Perry card right here.
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have that card signed....a real beauty